INCORPORATING D&I IN THE WORKPLACE (DIVERSITY & INCLUSION)
Diversity and inclusion are vital aspects of any workplace that aims to foster an environment where all employees feel welcomed, respected, and valued. In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse, it is essential to embrace and celebrate differences in the workplace.
Inclusive companies that prioritise diverse teams create a welcoming culture that allows their employees to thrive. In this article, we'll cover the basics of why D&I is so valuable to you as a company, as well as the tangible ways that you can start to encourage workplace diversity in your business.
WHAT IS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION?
Diversity and inclusion are certainly two very interconnected concepts. But they are different.
Diversity refers to the variety of differences that exist among people. In the workplace, diversity can manifest in various forms such as race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, and culture.
Inclusion, on the other hand, refers to the creation of an inclusive environment where every individual from those different groups feels respected, valued, and heard.
In short, diversity is about proper representation in the workplace, and inclusion refers to how well the views and needs of those groups are valued within that environment.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT IN 2023?
In 2023, the global workforce will be more diverse than ever before. Companies that prioritise diversity and inclusion will be better equipped to meet the needs of their customers and employees. A diverse workforce can help companies to reach a wider audience, enhance creativity and innovation, and improve decision-making. In addition, a diverse and inclusive workplace can help to attract and retain top talent, leading to a competitive advantage.
Along with sustainability, and the wider conversation around corporate social responsibility, workplace diversity and inclusion is a hot topic right now, and there is growing pressure from the public for brands to act responsibly and reflect our diverse society.
THE BENEFITS OF D&I IN THE WORKPLACE
Building a diverse and inclusive workplace has numerous benefits to both you and your staff:
ATTRACTING + RETAINING TOP TALENT
Job seekers are putting more and more value on finding a company that values and champions people of all backgrounds. By creating a diverse and inclusive environment, not only are you promoting a happier, more valued team, but in turn you will appeal to more diverse talent, and perhaps open yourself up to a whole new pool of job seekers.
When individuals don’t feel that their ideas, or work is actually valued or taken seriously by their organisation, they will eventually leave the company.
Diverse employees with different life perspectives and experiences lead to more diverse ideas and solutions to problems in your business.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Diversity and inclusion play a big part in most companies CSR goals these days! As we mentioned above, there is mounting pressure from governments, the public, and job seekers on companies to operate fairly, and provide equal opportunity to all genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, cultures, and minority groups.
So, by working towards a more diverse workforce from different backgrounds, you are also helping to improve your companies image, and meet your diversity goals within your CSR initiatives.
ENGAGED EMPLOYEES
Research shows that an inclusive workplace culture leads to more engaged employees. Disengaged employees cost organisations a lot of money when you take into account employee productivity, as well as staff churn/turnover if team members are leaving quickly due to not feeling valued.
In fact, according to research by McKinsey & Company, Employees who feel included within their organisations are about three times more likely than other peers to feel excited by and committed to organisation missions.
A READINESS TO INNOVATE
Faster (and better) problem solving is directly related to having more diverse teams with unique perspectives, skills, and insights.
CREATING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE IN YOUR COMPANY
When thinking about diversity, it is important to consider all forms of diversity. Here are some different ways in which you can incorporate diversity and inclusion into your company culture:
DIVERSE MANAGEMENT TEAMS
Having a diverse management team can then trickle down into the rest of the company, and help to enhance creativity, innovation, and decision-making across the board. When different perspectives are represented higher up, it means that naturally more value and urgency is put on the topic of creating an inclusive company, because those individuals in leadership positions can relate.
Management must lead by example in order to establish a truly inclusive culture. Often the CEOs, Directors etc. can take a more public stance on D&I, which helps to embed it into the company's purpose and public image.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN HIRING
Incorporating diversity and inclusion in the hiring process can help to attract a wider pool of applicants. It can also help to reduce biases and ensure that the best candidate is selected for the job regardless of their background.
By centering diversity and inclusion in the business strategy, the hiring, and the on-boarding process for new talent, you can ensure every decision you make is rooted in the principle of D&I.
D&I isn't just a HR issue. It should be a key ingredient execution of all business strategy, and included in the day-to-day activities of all teams.
RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
1 in 4 Black and Hispanic or Latin Employees Report Discrimination at Work according to a 2020 Gallup poll.
Racial and ethnic diversity play a big part in helping to create a more inclusive workplace. By embracing diversity, companies can create a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY WORKPLACES
Creating a workplace that is LGBTQ+ friendly can help to attract and retain top talent, especially in the GEN-Z and millennial generations who are leading the way when it comes to LGBGTQ+ equality and acceptance regardless of your sexual orientation.
It's worthwhile doing some research into how best to create a queer inclusive workplace.
GENDER DIVERSITY
It's common knowledge that there is still a significant inequality between the opportunities, pay, and respect for men and women within the workplace.
Creating a gender-diverse workplace can help to break down those barriers and promote equality. By embracing gender diversity, companies can create a culture that supports and empowers women, leading to better representation in leadership roles, better public image for their company, and a more diverse organisation overall.
EDUCATE YOURSELVES
Ask questions! If you're in charge of implementing your diversity initiatives, then don't be afraid to educate yourself on perspectives that you don't understand. Admitting that you don't know how best to support a particular group of people, and seeking advice is far more productive than wilful ignorance.
ALL THE PERKS
To build fully inclusive and diverse companies, you need a range of exciting, and genuinely valuable perks to make your employees feel supported and rewarded for their hard work.
One employee benefit that is often overlooked (or undiscovered) by decision-makers is paid volunteering time. At Matchable, we help to connect employees with their perfect volunteering project based on their availability, skills, and passions. Not only has this sort of remote, skilled volunteering been shown to help make staff feel more valued, and create a sense of purpose for them in their work, but it also provides opportunties for learning and development through skilled volunteering.
There are also 100s of diversity and inclusion related volunteer projects available on the platform, so that you can directly help those in minority groups!
CONCLUSION
Incorporating diversity initiatives in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense. By creating diverse companies, you can create a culture that supports and empowers all employees, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.
